Rear lens caps, going naked?

[kshapero]

I like to get to my lens quickly when I need to change them, so I never have a front cap on them (unless they are being stored). Today it just dawned on me that I keep a rear lens cap on the unused lens in my bag! Is this necessary? What do others do? Should I go naked on both ends? (don't laugh)😕😀

 

[kshapero]

 

[GaryLH]

I never use front lens cap as well, but I have b&w uv filter plus lens hood on all the time. I always use a rear lens cap.. If nothing else to minimize dust back there. I however setup double rear lens caps to make lens exchanges faster. I use epoxy to glue rear ens caps back to back. With the camera strap around my neck, get the unused lens w/ rear double cap still on it, remove current lens, and put it on used rear cap, unlock the lens I want to use to put on camera.

Gary

 

[Gumby]

I use both caps; neither take long to get off.

 

[Pablito]

rarely use front cap but use rear cap always because:
1. minimize possibility of dust getting inside camera (important with digital)
2. damage to rear element is much more likely to affect optical performance of lens than a scratch on front element.

 

[Godfrey]

rarely use front cap but use rear cap always because:
1. minimize possibility of dust getting inside camera (important with digital)
2. damage to rear element is much more likely to affect optical performance of lens than a scratch on front element.

My thoughts exactly.

G

 

[Chris101]

Dust or lint on the front of a lens won't show up in the pictures. On the other hand, stuff on the rear element will rob images of contrast and can cause focus issues. Keep the rear caps.

 

[GaryLH]

Here is picture of the double rear lens cap setup.

First shot before I attach previous used lens.

Gary

 

[randolph45]

Nikon bag

Nikon bag

When I still had my Nikon F's my Nikon bag was built with mounts for three extra lens. I liked that idea but haven't seen anything simular.Caps on both ends for now.

 

[GaryLH]

I think i vaguely remember the Nikon bags now that u brought it up. Great idea.. One of my friends had one. I forgot all a bought it. But those bags were rigid designs weren't they?

Gary

 

[randolph45]

I think i vaguely remember the Nikon bags now that u brought it up. Great idea.. One of my friends had one. I forgot all a bought it. But those bags were rigid designs weren't they?

Gary

Yeah like a rock,hard and heavy🙂

 

[kshapero]

Yes I use a hood and filter on my lens. Sounds like I will keep using my rear caps.

 

[semilog]

Scratches and dust on the back of the lens are optically *worse* than on the front. If you're going to use only one cap, use the back cap.

 

[Socrates]

I think i vaguely remember the Nikon bags now that u brought it up. Great idea.. One of my friends had one. I forgot all a bought it. But those bags were rigid designs weren't they?

Gary

Yes they are but the panel where can put the lenses on is screwed in the bag so I think that's possible to get it very easy out of a bag.

 

[thirtyfivefifty]

I take off the front caps when I'm actively in the shooting process. Filters and hood are on all the time anyway. I keep rear caps on. There's really nothing to stop anything from making contact with the rear element. It's super exposed.

 

[caux]

Here is picture of the double rear lens cap setup.

First shot before I attach previous used lens.

Gary

That's a pretty good idea, Im gonna give it a try.

 

[seajak]

+1 for the double rear lens cap idea. I have two Leica caps glued together that I picked up in a bargain bin more than 20 years ago. I bought it thinking that I would use it for storing two lenses back to back but now just leave it on a single lens in my bag. Makes lens changing very fast and avoids fumbling and dropping a cap or worse a lens.

cheers,
clay

 

[fireblade]

lens caps, on or off...depends what your doing
when i shot the tour earlier this year, and at other times, i never use caps, front or rear. they become a pain. don't worry, your front and rear lens wont disintegrate.🙂
paranoia is a bad thing😀

 

[Roger Hicks]

lens caps, on or off...depends what your doing
when i shot the tour earlier this year, and at other times, i never use caps, front or rear. they become a pain. don't worry, your front and rear lens wont disintegrate.🙂
paranoia is a bad thing😀

So is dirt in your lenses, the more so if it ends up on a digi sensor, never mind in the lens or shutter mechanisms, or on the film.

Cheers,

R.

 

[nikon_sam]

rarely use front cap but use rear cap always because:
1. minimize possibility of dust getting inside camera (important with digital)
2. damage to rear element is much more likely to affect optical performance of lens than a scratch on front element.

Thanks for posting my thoughts...I do have both front & rear on...or at least a hood on the front...

Post #3500 11/16/2012